New to the top 12 in 1999 were the Boston Crusaders. The corps had been trying to make the Finals since DCI’s second season in 1973. After placing 14th three times and being edged out of the top 12 in 1994 by 0.40 just outside their hometown in Foxboro, everything clicked in 1999 and the corps propelled itself to 9th place. The Crusaders have been a finalist ever since.